Lt. Gen. Bucknall addressed NATO’s 2014 drawdown date with the same dismissive attitude that US officials have in recent months, saying it was “not the end of the campaign” and that troops would be remaining for a long time afterward.

“It’s a long-term commitment,” Bucknall insisted, in comments that likely won’t sit well in Britain. A recent poll showed overwhelming opposition to the conflict among British voters.

British envoy William Patey suggested last week that Britain would be on the hook for helping to fund the Afghan government through at least 2025. Bucknall’s comments suggest that the occupation could be continuing that long as well.

Since when do the military in the UK and USA dictate the foreign policy of their governments? Genreal Bucknall should stifle it and let the British parliament decide how best to conduct the war in Afghanistan. And if the government has any ears, it should be listening to the will of the people. When governments stop listening to the electorate, their end is in sight. That goes for the governments of the UK and the USA.

Bob D

Since cowards like Obama are in power and jerks like Romney oppose him.

As far as I am aware, military officers in a democracy don't define political policy. Has there been a coup or a military takeover?

cac

British are arrogant individuals, look at how they were in India, in America – they believe they own the world. There is no reason for you to be in either Afghanistan or Iraq, leave these people alone, even if it means going back in the middle ages, they ought to figure out what is good for them. Whites are so narrow minded they don't understand what liberty is, these people have taught us how to count, about medecine, pharmacology, geometry and so much more. We have nothing to teach them, this stupid urban white societies, they can do much better without.

Give that racist **** a rest. I've met plenty of race-baiting people of all colors. Especially when the political climate benefits them. Take a tour of Africa and you find plenty of folks ready and willing to beat that old tired colonial drum in order to justify their megalomaniac murderous tendencies. It makes for convenient scapegoating.

Wootie Berster

Steady on, Mr. cac — you do know that cac (cack) is a popular American slang term for shite, don't you?

And so, Mr. shite.. if you live under any kind of democracy at all, you can thank British common law and the British traditions for that. Any where the British went, now claims democracy and democratic traditions. Where and how do you suppose that came about? By accident? But then clearly by your attitude you don't take the long view, do you.

heathroi

Maybe a new decoration could be awarded for senior officers for (pigheadedness) committent to the task – the Haig medal

MvGuy

&&&&&&& such nonsense from [who else] …a general that can't tie STRAIGHT tie…. This is the THIRD time the Brits are "over there" KILLING Afghans….. The Afghans say, we can forgive the U.S. for attacking us after 911… but NOT the Brutish British…. here for a third time killing our people …. WHY..???
Why no one mention the votes that count… BP, Conoco…. Exxon Mobile… And there is ALL that "O"… for the Boyz…. Billions and billions worth of the sticky stuff…!! Where there is SMOKE, there is desire…

ali

imagine that Taliban were ruling in Afghanistan. What will happen to the Afghan people. The mere fact that violence is on the rise in Afghanistan is related to some elements within local militant groups who, for whatever the reason, see continued aggression as a way to help perpetuate their own existence.

thedissenter

Britain is one of those empires who already died in Afghanistan. But since we human beings (particularly those defined as politicians) are such idiots and think that if we continue doing the same thing eventually the results will be different, the idiots who run the British Empire thought that by aligning itself with their offspring empire, they would be able to prevail in Afghanistan the second time around. So, the short of this is that, of course, they're not planning to get out in 2015 or 2025 or 2150. They think they're there to stay for ever and ever. However, they don't ever take into consideration what the other half – the one that is fighting them to ensure they get the fuck out – thinks. And at the end of the day, it is they who call the shots. The British Empire went there to die for the second time and die it will. The Afghans will make sure of that.

Tom Mauel

DOD reports three US soldiers killed Saturday, October 8. Two died in Kandahar from an RPG attack and another soldier died from small arms fire in Logar province. All six "NATO' soldiers reported killed in Afghanistan this month have been US soldiers.

William Dalton

When did British generals start wearing the uniform of the Soviet Red Army?

Claus Eric Hamle

And all that for the Trans-Afghan Pipeline. Why are soldiers willing to die for aircondition in Texas ?

RockyRococo

I guess this is the British "exit strategy":

When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains,
And the women come out to cut up what remains,
Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains
An' go to your Gawd like a soldier.

Jamie

Leave these people alone all countrys there are there illegaly baised on lies.People in the Mid East don't realize most of the weastern world is brainwashed through t.v and other means.Many are snaping out of it but it needs to happen faster.